Juraj Slafkovsky has already given the Canadiens a lot to like. The problem, from Montreal’s point of view, is that his best version still feels out there somewhere.
That was the gamble when the Canadiens took him first overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. At 6’3”, with the kind of speed and puck skills that can overwhelm defenders, Slafkovsky looked like a future difference-maker.
His numbers that draft year at TPS Turku in Finland - 10 points in 39 games - didn’t jump off the page. What really turned heads was what he did on the international stage.
At the 2022 Olympics, Slafkovsky looked like a force of nature. He scored seven goals in seven games and helped Slovakia win bronze, their first-ever medal in ice hockey. He followed that up at the IIHF World Championship with three goals and six assists in eight games, showing he could impact games in more ways than just finishing chances.
The NHL, though, was a different test. Slafkovsky needed time to adjust to the speed and physicality, and his rookie season reflected that learning curve. He managed just four goals and six assists in 39 games before a knee injury ended his year early.
The progression came over the next two seasons, even if the consistency wasn’t always there. In 2023-24, he posted his first 20-goal, 50-point season.
The following year, he reached 51 points even though his goal total dipped to 18. There were flashes of what made him such a coveted pick, but also too many stretches where he faded from view.
Last season was the breakthrough. After a quiet start, Slafkovsky’s offense took off once he was teamed with Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov.
Instead of simply slotting in beside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield on the top line, he drove play on the second line. When he eventually moved back with Suzuki and Caufield, he brought that confidence with him.
The results were his best yet: 30 goals, 43 assists and 73 points.
Even with those career highs, there’s still a sense that Slafkovsky has more to give. His performance at the 2026 Olympics in Milano-Cortina only reinforced that idea.
Some people brushed off what he did at the Beijing Olympics because NHL players weren’t there, but he answered that skepticism the best way possible. He opened the tournament with a three-point outing in an upset of Finland, who would go on to win bronze, and finished with four goals and four assists in six games.
That international version of Slafkovsky is the one Montreal wants to see more often. When he’s at his best, he powers through the neutral zone with size and speed and creates off the rush.
With Slovakia, that part of his game shows up regularly. With the Canadiens, he can sometimes blend into the background while Suzuki and Caufield carry the offense.
That’s the next step for Montreal. Slafkovsky has shown he can be a catalyst, but the Canadiens need him to become a true offensive force.
That means moving away from simply orbiting Suzuki and Caufield and giving him more room to drive a line on his own. If that happens, Montreal gets a harder team to defend and a second scoring threat to lean on.
And if the international stage is any indication, the Canadiens may still be waiting on the real breakout. Slafkovsky has the tools. Now the challenge is unlocking them more consistently in Montreal.
In Other News...
Canadiens Quiet Offseason May Be About To Change Fast
Montreals quiet offseason has started to feel a little less quiet as the Canadiens continue to be mentioned in the same breath as other Atlantic Division clubs that have already made their rosters look stronger. The sense around the team is not that a deal is done, but that general manager Kent Hughes has kept the door open to trade talks while the front office keeps searching for ways to upgrade a top-six forward group that still looks like the clearest need.
A handful of names have surfaced in the rumor mill, including Zachary Bolduc and Arber Xhekaj, which is enough to keep speculation humming even without a confirmed transaction. For a Canadiens club that has spent much of the summer waiting for the market to bring the right opportunity, the next move may come quickly if Hughes decides the fit and timing are finally there. [Read more 🡒]
Ducks Face A Tough Price If They Push For Arber Xhekaj
Arber Xhekaj keeps showing up in trade chatter for the simple reason that teams looking for defensive help notice what he brings. The Montreal defenseman has the kind of edge and presence that can appeal to a club trying to toughen up its blue line, and Anaheim has been floated as a fit if the Ducks decide to keep pushing for more depth on the back end. For Montreal, though, the broader picture matters just as much as the player itself, because any discussion of moving Xhekaj would have to make sense for a team that still sees value in what he adds.
The obstacle for Anaheim is not just whether Xhekaj is available, but whether the price is worth it while the Ducks juggle cap concerns and the need to get Cutter Gauthier signed. Even in a hypothetical framework, the ask would have to be substantial enough to interest Montreal, which is why these talks tend to circle around prospects and draft capital rather than a simple hockey trade. For now, there is no sign the Canadiens are looking to make Xhekaj available, which leaves this more as a useful reminder of his market value than a deal on the verge of happening. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Delay On Arber Xhekaj And Zach Bolduc Raises Bigger Questions
The Canadiens still have two restricted free agents waiting for contracts in Arber Xhekaj and Zachary Bolduc, and the delay has become more interesting than the usual summer paperwork. Anthony Di Marco noted that there is uncertainty not just about the terms, but also about the timeline, with Montreal still working through how it wants to handle both players as part of its roster planning.
Xhekaj and Bolduc are in very different spots, which is part of what makes the situation worth watching. Xhekajs next step appears tied to how the club values him in the depth chart, while Bolducs case carries more weight because of the way Montreal acquired him and the flexibility he brings. Until the Canadiens sort out those negotiations, there is a small but meaningful question hanging over how the organization sees each player in the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]